Geoege k adams



(No Model.) I

G. N. ADAMS.

VEHICLE WHEEL LOOK.

Patented June 28, 1887,

INVENTOR $72, aid M14 mmw WITNESSES 1 ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS vmwuma n mr. wmm muc UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

GEORGE N. ADAMS, OF OLEAN, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-WHEEL LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,559, dated June 28,1887.

Application filed October 20, 1886. Serial No. 216,731. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. ADAMS, of

free, turns loosely on the axle; andthe invention consists inavehicle-wheel-locking device of this description, of novelconstruction, substantially as hereinafter described,and pointed out inthe claims.

The invention is more particularly designed as a lock for the wheels ofchildrens carriages or perambulators, and will here be describedaccordingly, but by suitably modifying the parts it may also be usedupon vehicles or wagons of a larger size.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

'Figure 1 represents an exterior longitudinal view of a childs-carriageaxle in partwith wheel in part thereon, and having my improved lockapplied, the coverof the lockcase being removed. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the same in part, mainly uponthe line ac a: inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section upon the line y yin Fig,l; andFig. 4, a transverse section through the axle, showing the plate on theinner face of the hub of the wheel.

A is the axle of the carriage, and B its wheel fitted to turn freelyupon the axle, and to the hub b of which the lock is to be applied, butnot directly, so as to avoid weakening of the hub by notching orrecessing it, ametal plate, 0, being fitted to rest against the innerface of the hub, and preferably secured thereto by screws or otherwise,but not necessarily so, and against the exposed face of which plate thebolt or catch of the lock is made to bear, said exposed face of theplate not being roughened, or, if roughened, only very finely, or as thelock are contained within a case or frame,

D, under cover of a face-plate, d. This case or frame is constructed tostraddle the axle A, as by cheeks e e on opposite sides of it, and isheld stationary on the axle by a set-screw, f. By this construction ofsaid frame thelock may be readily applied to the axle or be taken offwhen required, and be adjusted on or along the axle, and be easilyapplied to carriages of different construction. I

The portion of the lock frame or case D which is immediately-under thecover or faceplate (1 has a longitudinal recess, 9, within which themovable portions of the lock work, including a sliding bolt or catch, E,a sliding follower, F, in rear of the catch, and a camlever, G, formoving the follower and catch forward, said lever being free to workthrough an opening in the back and side of the case. The bolt or catch Emay be of any suitable shape; but I prefer to make it of triangularform, so that it has'a pointed or angular front. This catch is notpivoted, but is free to work to either side of the frame, and is held inposition, when not at work, by a' coiled spring, z. When this catch ispressed forward, by manipulating the lever G its angular front is movedforward in a straight course against the hub or plate 0, as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 1, and when the carriage-wheel revolves the angularfront of the catch would naturally follow the plate 0 toward a point, 0,raising the end 0 of the catch. This tendency or action causes the catchto act as a look by its endeavor to protrude, which is held in check,however, by the wheel and frame. This triangular construction, too, ofthe catch E is both simple and substantial, and enables the catch to beeasily operated, and locks the wheel,no matter in which way it may beturning. When the catch E is out of engagement ates to force the catch Eforward into contact with the plate G of the hub, and so to lock or holdthe wheel from turning. It is preferred to have the catch or bolt Eindependent, and not to have the lever G act directly upon it, but uponthe interposed sliding follower F. By placing a spring, h, at the backof the follower for the cam end of the lever to bear against not only isshock avoided and a more gradual action obtained, but the compression ofthe spring gives the catch E lead, so that it will keep engaged with theplate on the hub of the wheel,and will conform to any wabbling movementof the wheel when throwing the catch into engagement. Said spring willalso serve to hold the lever in the position to which it has beenadjusted when locking the wheel. This spring h, however, might bedispensed with,and a coiled spring, i, of proper strength be substitutedfor it, said spring a? being at tached at its one end to the fulcrum-pins and at its other end to a pin, 7;, on the inner face of the catch E,which pin is free to slide in a slot, Z, in the frame D, thus tying andsecuring the catch from dropping out of place. Both springs h and i,however, may be 'used, if desired and to advantage.

In a wheel-lock constructed as described the catch or bolt pressesagainst the face of the hub or plate thereon and acts as a wedge orbrace, bringing the heaviest strain on the out-, side nut that holds theWheel on the axle, which is best able to stand the strain. The plate onthe inner face or end of the hub insures the operation of the catch andprevents the hub from being dented.

I am aware that there have been various vehicle-wheel locks before inuse applied to the axle, among which sliding toothed collars, operatedby a rotating shaft and controlled by springs to keep them in engagementwith pins 011 the wheel-hubs, have been used. Others, again, have beenin the form of a positive brake, consisting of sliding locking-bolts onthe axle made to engage with slotted plates fast on the hubs, said boltsin some cases being controlled by a spring. I therefore disclaim any andall of these or other similar devices, and restrict my invention only tothe novel features thereof and combinations of parts as pointed out inthe claims.

The angular catch E is here shown as of equilateral-triangular form, butin practice it will be best to make its base twice the length, orthereabout, of its sides, which will give a more or less obtuse angularconstruction to the end of the catch which engages with thehub.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the case or frame D, the locking catch or bolt E,and its follower F,arranged within said case, and the cam-lever G,essentially as described.

2. In a vehicle-wheel lock, the freely-working locking catch or bolt E,of angular construction, in combination with the hub-plate O,substantially as specified.

3. In a vehicle-wheel lock, the combination, with the axle A, of thecase or frame D, provided with a longitudinal slot, 9, the catch or boltE, .having a projection or pin, 70, adapted to slide in and along saidslot, the sliding follower F, the cam-lever G, a spring controlling thecatch. the wheel B, and the locking hubplate G, substantially asspecified.

4. The combination of the cam-lever G, the spring h, the follower F, andthe catch E, esscntially as shown and described.

GEORGE N. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

WM. M. ABRAMS, Jr., CHAS. WoRDELL.

